Make Estate Planning simple, fast and more affordable with Discovery

Johannesburg, 8 June 2026 – Up to 70% of South Africans die without a valid Will, leaving their families vulnerable to legal delays, disputes and financial uncertainty at an already difficult time.

“Many South Africans still associate Wills with older or wealthy individuals, but the reality is very different today,” says Gareth Friedlander, Deputy Chief Executive of Discovery Life.

“If you own any kind of assets, like a paid-off second-hand car, a bank savings account, unit trusts, or crypto assets, having a valid Will in place ensures your wishes are carried out as you intended.”

The Discovery Wills and Trust Services allows clients to draft, update, and securely store their Wills, while benefiting from professional legal advice and oversight. Meanwhile, the enhanced Discovery Estate Preserver covers the costs of winding up an estate.

Wills matter more than ever

“Modern families are often more financially connected and structurally complex than before,” explains Friedlander. “Whether it’s unmarried partners, blended families, parents supporting children, or individuals building businesses and assets earlier in life, the consequences of not having a valid Will can be significant.”

Without one, a deceased estate is distributed according to the Intestate Succession Act, rather than a person’s wishes. This can cause problems for families, especially in cases involving minor children, second marriages, unmarried partners or dependants that can take months or years to resolve.

In some cases:

• Loved ones may face delays accessing funds and assets
• Family members can dispute inheritance decisions
• Properties may take longer to transfer
• Children’s inheritance may be managed through the government’s Guardian Fund
• Families can face unexpected legal and administrative costs

“A Will is more than a legal document – it is a critical part of protecting long-term financial security for the people you leave behind," says Friedlander.

Making Estate Planning simpler

Harry Joffe, Head of Legal Services at Discovery Life, says many South Africans delay drafting a Will because they think the process is complicated, time-consuming or something they can deal with later in life.

“We wanted to make the process simpler, more accessible and less intimidating for South Africans,” says Joffe. “We have made it easy for clients to access professional specialists who guide them through the estate planning journey, making it simpler and more seamless.”

Clients can request a consultation with a specialist via the Discovery Bank app, the Discovery website, or their financial adviser, where they will be guided through the will-drafting process.

Once this step is completed, clients can download and print a copy of their Will from the Discovery website. The original, printed and signed Will is then collected by courier and securely stored with Discovery.

For added convenience, clients can also view a copy of their Will at any time on their Discovery profile or, if they are Discovery Bank clients, in the Discovery Bank app. Clients can also update their Wills as their life and financial circumstances change, including marriage, divorce, having children, or purchasing property.

Joffe cautions that while AI tools and online templates are becoming more common, Wills remain legal documents that must meet strict legal requirements in terms of the Wills Act to be valid. Common mistakes that can invalidate a Will include:

• Not signing every page correctly and in full
• Making handwritten edits after signing
• Failing to update beneficiaries after major life events
• Storing Wills in inaccessible places
• Assuming verbal wishes will be legally recognised

“Something as simple as incorrect witnessing, amendments after signing or failing to securely store the original document can create significant complications later on,” says Joffe. “For example, signing as a witness will disqualify you from receiving a benefit from the Will, including being appointed as executor, while copies of Wills are not valid.”

Helping families cover costs with the Discovery Estate Preserver

Many people underestimate how expensive winding up an estate can become and are not aware or financially prepared for the legal, administrative and tax costs that come after someone dies.

“Executor fees can amount to up to 3,5% of the gross estate value plus VAT. For example, on an estate worth R3 million, executor fees alone could be R120,750, before additional taxes, legal and administrative costs on the estate are considered,” explains Joffe.

The Discovery Life Estate Preserver is an affordable product that covers costs such as executor fees, property conveyancing fees, and testamentary trustee fees.

“This gives your loved ones the peace of mind that, in addition to the estate being managed by experts, the associated costs of these services will also be covered, and the beneficiaries won’t lose out with fees being paid out of the estate,” explains Joffe.

This product also covers Trustee fees for an unlimited number of trusts, and up to 20 years of Trustee fee coverage per trust. “This means Trustee fees can remain covered for years after a parent passes away, helping protect children and dependents over the long term,” explains Joffe.

“This enhanced offering reflects South Africa’s unique family structures, including single parents and intergenerational households. Clients can now have a separate trust for each child, an aged parent, or different spouses, ensuring that their loved one’s futures are taken care of, no matter how their family is made up.”

More rewards for Discovery clients

Through integration with Vitality Health and Vitality Active, Discovery Life clients are rewarded with upfront premium discounts (up to 20% for Health and 15% for Active) and PayBack (up to 20% for Health and 10% for Active) on their premiums paid every five years.

In addition, Discovery Bank clients who draft and securely store their Will with Discovery will receive 10,000 Vitality Money points, boosting their Vitality Money status and rewards from Discovery Bank, based on their status.

Get a Will. Own what’s yours

“Too many South Africans put off drafting a Will because the process feels complex or seems expensive. We’ve changed that. With Discovery, it’s easy to draft a Will, with expert support every step of the way. We’re making it simple for clients to take control of their legacy and protect the people who matter most,” says Friedlander.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

An explanation of fees relating to the winding up of an estate:

1. Executor fees: Payments made to the person or company that handles the administration of someone’s estate after they die, like paying debts, distributing assets, and dealing with legal paperwork. This fee is usually up to 3.5% of the total value of the estate, plus VAT.
2. Testamentary trustee fees: Costs paid to the person or company managing a testamentary trust that is set up in accordance with ones Will, to take care of money or property for someone else, like children or dependents, after the person dies.
3. Property conveyancing fees: Costs paid to lawyers to transfer ownership of property from the person who died to the person inheriting it.
4. Estate Duty: Tax charged on the total value of an estate above the applicable threshold. Estate duty can be up to 25% of the dutiable value of an estate, but is normally 20% (If the estate is below R30 million)